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Bundesamt für Naturschutz

The German MAB National Committee

The German National Committee for the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Program is a panel of experts that oversees the development and implementation of the MAB Program in Germany. It acts as a link between the national and international levels and supports the sustainable development of biosphere reserves in Germany. Every country participating in the MAB program establishes such a committee. There are currently around 160 MAB National Committees worldwide.
Logo MAB National Commitee Germany
Logo MAB National Commitee Germany

Members of the National Committee

The National Committee is reappointed every three years by the Federal Minister for the Environment. The members work on a voluntary basis. The German committee currently comprises 20 experts from the fields of science, practice, administration, and politics. They bring extensive experience in the various topics covered by the MAB program, from biodiversity and education for sustainable development to sustainable regional development.

Chair of committee

  • Chair: Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Protection, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN)
  • Secretariat: Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN)

Tasks

The German MAB National Committee:

  • organizes the implementation and further development of the UNESCO MAB program in Germany,
  • advises on the designation of new biosphere reserves,
  • participates in the regular evaluation of existing biosphere reserves, ensuring compliance with UNESCO criteria in the biosphere reserves,
  • develops concepts for sustainable management and education for sustainable development (ESD),
  • writes position papers on current topics such as zonation or renewable energies,
  • supports the implementation of the goals of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in the MAB context,
  • represents Germany in the international committees of the MAB program.

The MAB National Committee contributes to the further development of German biosphere reserves as model regions for sustainable livelihoods and economic activities, in line with global environmental goals and with a view to protecting biological diversity.

Contact at BfN

MAB-Geschäftsstelle

Members of the German MAB National Committee

 
NameOrganisation
Dr. Stefanie Hedtkamp (Chairperson)         Head of Division N I 2 "Habitat Protection, Natura 2000" at BMUKN, holds a diploma in environmental sciences
Susanne BeltingTechnical director of the German Federal Environmental Foundation DBU, Natural Heritage; holds a diploma in biology; Key areas of expertise: applied nature conservation, protected area management
Jan Peter Di BenedettoStudent B. Sc. ecotrophology at the University of applied Sciences Fulda, trained in organic farming, MAN Youth; Key areas of expertise: youth participation
Dr. Stefanie EichinerChair of the Board of Directors of the initiative “Biodiversity in Good Company” e.V.; Head of Sustainability at the Pfleiderer Group; graduate in forestry; Key areas of expertise: business and economics
Barbara EngelsSecretary of the German MAB National Committee, Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, Master of European Studies and Diploma in biology; Key areas of expertise: international cooperation, governance
Birgit GrauvogelExecutive secretary of Tourism Saarland. vice-president of the German Tourism Association (DTV e.V.) holds a diploma in geography; Key areas of expertise: sustainable tourism, tourism and destination management
Thomas HabermannChief administrative officer of Landkreis Rhön-Grabfeld (BR Rhön); lawyer; Key areas of expertise: local/regional governance
Prof. Dr. Hubertus JobSenior professor for Geography and Regional Research, University of Würzburg; Key areas of expertise: regional economics, tourism in protected areas 
Adrian JohstExecutive Secretary of Naturstiftung David of BUND Thüringen, holds a diploma in biology; Key areas of expertise: Naturschutz
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jörg KnielingProfessor for Urban Planning and Regional Development, HafenCity University Hamburg, Key areas of expertise: sustainable regional development, governance
Karl-Heinz LieberHead of the Nature Conservation Department at the Baden-Württemberg Ministry for the Environment, Climate Protection and the Energy Sector, holds a diploma in forestry, Key areas of expertise: Agriculture and forestry in combination with nature conservation, building bridges between disciplines
Prof. Dr. Vera LuthardtRetired chair for Vegetation science and Applied Plant Ecology at the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development; co-founder of the Biosphere Reserves Institute (BRI); Key areas of expertise: bog management, environmental monitoring, climate change adaptive nature conservation
Helga May-DidionFormer head of Nature conservation in the Ministry for the Environment, Climate, Mobility, Agriculture and consumer protection Saarland, holds a diploma in biology and geography; Key areas of expertise: nature conservation, sustainable land use
Dr. Lutz MöllerVice-Secretary General of the German Commission for UNESCO (DUK), PhD in Physics; Key areas of expertise: UNESCO-Governance, international law and its implementation, international cooperation, science and culture policy
Prof. Dr. Heike MolitorChair for Environmental Education and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) at the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development; Key areas of expertise: Education for Sustainable Development (in protected areas)
Prof. Dr. Johannes PrüterBiologist, former Manager of the BR Elbe River Landscape in Lower Saxony, Key areas of expertise: landscape ecology, applied nature conservation and protected area management
Jens RasimAgricultural engineer; Managing Director of Gut Gallin, Chairman of the Board of Biopark e.V., Extended Board Member of BÖLW; Key areas of expertise: organic farming, and land use
Prof. Dr. Irene RingChair for Ecosystem Services at the Technical University of Dresden, International Institute Zittau (IHI), Key areas of expertise: ecosystem services, environmental and ecological economy, governance, regional sustainability, economic instruments in environmental policy
Lothar SchmidHead of Division for Nature Conservation and forest policy  at the Institute for Federal Real Estate, holds a diploma in forestry;  Key areas of expertise: forestry, Hunting, wildlife management and nature conservation
Marla SchulzOfficer at Nationale Naturlandschaften e.V., M.Sc. Sustainable Regional Development  (HNEE), Member of the German Youth Network Jugendnetzwerk Biosphäre e.V. and of EuroMAB Yout; Key areas of expertise: transformative change, participative sustainable regional development
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